MAN FOUND DEAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 5 August 1941, Page 6

MAN FOUND DEAD

HEAD BATTERED WITH HEAVY INSTRUMENT PROPRIETOR OI STORE AT WAITOTARA INVESTIGATIONS BY POLICE EXPERTS Wanganui. This Day. Arthur Harding Parkinson, the eld crlv proprietor of a general store at Waitotara, was found dead in his store 10-day with his head battered. Parkinson, who was aged 78 years, was found in his shop shortly before 8 a.m.. his head having been battered by some heavy instrument. Inspector J. Dempsey. Detective-Ser-geant J. K. Robertson and Detective J. Murray are in Waitotara making investigations. They will he joined by Detective-Sergeant J. Walsh (Auckland* Dr T. P. Lynch, Wellington pathologist, and the linger print expert Senior-Sergeant E. Dinnie (Wellington) and also members of the Police Force from various parts of the North Island experienced in investigating murders. Parkinson, who had kept the Waitotara store for many years, v.as a widower and lived with Mr and Mrs J. J. Armstrong in Waitotara. He was in the habit of returning to his shop at night to attend to the books and to listen to the radio. When it was found that he had not occupied his room last night Mr Armstrong, accompanied by a neighbour, Mr M. Grove, went in search to-day. and. found Par. kinson lying dead in a passage at the back of the shop. The passage leads to the back door of the shop. The front door of the shoo v.as open.